Transportable bulk-material handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, transportable from one location to another, for handling bulk materials of granular or pulverulent consistency such as corn, and other grains, dry bulk chemicals, and the like. The apparatus includes a wheel-equipped carriage adapted to be towed from one location to another, and it further includes a large longitudinally-extending bin pivotally supported by the carriage for angular displacements between a generally vertical position of use and a generally horizontal position for transport. A tubular elevator shaft extends longitudinally through the bin and is equipped with a bucket conveyor adapted to carry material upwardly from the lower end to the upper end of the bin. The bin is essentially devoid of independent frame structure, and the bin and elevator shaft extending therethrough mutually reinforce and rigidify each other. The center of gravity of the bin is so related to the pivotal axis therefor that relatively constant-moment loads are operative on the bin irrespective of the position thereof tending to rotate it toward the horizontal position thereof.

waited States Patent [191 [111 3,792,790

Brubaker Feb. 19, 1974 l TRANSPORTABLE BULK-MATERIAL PrimaryExaminer-Albert J. Makay HANDLING APPARATUS Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Joseph B. Gardner, Esq. [75] Inventor: Louis M. Brubaker, Delphi,Ind. [57] ABSTRACT Assign: Alloy Grafts Delphi, Apparatus, transportablefrom one location to an- [22] Filed; Man 8, 7 other, for handling bulkmaterials of granular or pulverulent consistency such as corn, and othergrains, dry bulk chemicals, and the like. The apparatus includes awheel-equipped carriage adapted to be towed 52 us. c1. 214/501, 214/17 0from one location to another, and it further includes a 51 1111.01 B60p1 04 large longitudinally-extendingPin Pivotally supported [58] FieldofSearch ..214/501,50s,509, 16 R, by the carriage angular dlsplacememsbetween a generally vertical position of use and a generally hori-214/17 198/48 6 zontal position for transport. A tubular elevator shaftextends longitudinally through the bin and is equipped 21 Appl. No.2122,033

" *k f fl g C d with a bucket conveyor adapted to carry material up-UNITED STATES PATENTS wardly from the lower end to the upper end of thebin.

3 208 616 9/1965 H k 214,508 The bin is essentially devoid ofindependent frame as ms structure, and the bin and elevator shaftextending 2,342,528 W. cm... 131133111111: 51222 *heeetheeeeh mutuallyeeiefeeee v eeieify eeeh 3,547,291 12/1970 Battenonm 214501 x other. Thecenter of gravity of the b|n 1s so related to 3,313,435 4/1967 Welk214/501 the Pwotal therefor that relanvely constant 3 092 2 4 6/1963 u214,501 X moment loads are operative on the bin irrespective of3,000,671 9/196] Monegato 293 10 x the position thereof tending torotate it toward the 3,559,830 2/1971 Top ins 214/508 horizontalposition thereof.

2,347,437 4/1944 Saxe '6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEBFEB 1 91914sum 1 or 2 LOU/5 M. BRUBA KER FIG. 3

A TTOR/VEY PATENTEDFEBISIQH 3.792.790

' sum 2 OF 2 KER 'M TRANSPORTABLE BULK-MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Thisinvention relates to apparatus for handling bulk materials such as corn,wheat, rice and other grains, dry bulk chemicals, and similar granularor pulverulent materials; and it relates more particularly totransportable bulk-material handling apparatus adapted to be movedconveniently from one location of use to another to be employed thereatas a receiver for such materials or as a high capacity portable elevatortherefor.

Although there are a great number of environments in which the presentinvention has utility, a specific instance thereof is in handling grain,especially corn, which is a granular or pulverulent material often,although not necessarily, quite fluent. Considering the handling ofcorn, as an exemplary instance of the use of the apparatus, corn isusually harvested while somewhat wet and must be transported from thefield to a central location at which it is held in relatively largestorage containers for drying and other processing. Since the storagefacilities are large, specialized, and therefore quite expensive, theyare often quite remote from the harvest areas so that the harvested cornmust be transported thereto which requires loading the corn intotrailers or other conveyances and then unloading the corn therefrom atthe elevator facility. The alternative, however, has heretofore beenimpracticable because the cost of providing fixed facilities forhandling relatively large quantities of the grain has not beeneconomically feasible.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide animproved bulk-material handling system for processing granular orpulverulent material such as grain and the like which is portable sothat it can be transported from one location of use to another, which isinexpensive and is characterized by low-maintenance operation, and whichis easy to use and reliable in its function.

Additional objects, among others, of the present invention are in theprovision of a portable bulk-material handling apparatus having acarriage adapted to be towed or otherwise transported from one locationto another and a bin of large capacity supported on the carriage formovement between a generally vertical position of use and a generallyhorizontal position for transport; which apparatus has an interrelatedcenter of gravity and axis about which the bin is displaceable whichprovides relatively constant moment loads tending to bias the bin towardits horizontal position; which bin is substantially devoid ofindependent frame structure and includes a tubular elevator shaftextending longitudinally therethrough which, together with the bin,results in a mutuality of support by means of which the shaft tends torigidify the bin and the bin to rigidity the shaft; and which apparatusincludes: ready transportability so that it can be used in remote areas;easy displacement between the generally horizontal and generallyvertical positions for transport and use, respectively; absence of arequirement for an independent foundation; waterproof characteristicsfor outdoor application; which provides variable speed. loading andunloading as compared to a gravity system;

which is capable of resisting wind loads and the appli cation ofeccentric forces thereto during loading which tend to tilt the same;which can off-load from; either side of the bin at sufficient height toallow-fillingofrel-' atively high receptacles, vehicular or otherwise,not associated with the apparatus; which is shaped and suspended foroptimum length, width, height, and balance so that it is transportableboth by highway and rail; which can be used as a holding or surge bin ina production line, can be used as a storage bin, and can be used as aportable grain elevator; and which has the economic advantages of beingtaxed, depreciated, and financedas portable equipment as well as beingrepossessible.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention, especially asconcemsparticular features and characteristics thereof, will become apparent asthe specification continues.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view in elevation of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged broken transverse sectional view taken along theline 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged broken vertical sectional view taken along theline 44 of FIG 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged broken side view and elevation, partly in section,taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a side view in elevation, similar to that of FIG. 2, butillustrating the apparatus in its horizontal position and connected to avehicle preparatory to being transported to a different location.

The exemplary embodiment of the transportable bulk-material handlingapparatus illustrated in the drawings is designated'in its entirety withthe numeral 10, and it comprises a carriage 11 and a bin 12. Thecarriage 11 supports the bin 12 in a manner permitting the bin to beangularly displaced between the upright or generally vertical positionof use shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the generally horizontal position fortransport illustrated in FIG. 6. Also, the carriage 11 is adapted to beconnected to a vehicle such as a truck or tractor 14, as illustrated inFIG. 6, which is then able to transport the carriage and bin from onelocation of use to another. I

The carriage 11 may take a variety of forms, but it advantageouslyrequires no foundation, at least if used on level terrain, and issufficiently strong and stable to support the bin 12 in its verticalorientation of use with the normally encountered wind loadings to whichit may be subjected applied thereagainst and with adequate accommodationfor limited tilting of the bin which may occur during loading thereof.The carriage 11 illustrated in the drawings is a simple, lightweightstructure comprising a platform composed 'of transversely spaced andlongitudinally extending side beams 15 and 16, and a plurality oflongitudinally spaced and transversely extending cross beams 17 (onlyone of which is shown) welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the sidebeams. The platform components 15, 16, and 17 may have any usualstructural configurations such as the I-beam configuration illustrated.

The platform of the carriage 11 is also equipped with a plurality ofwheels, there being two such wheels in the embodiment illustrated whichare respectively denoted with the numerals l8 and 19. The wheels arerotatably supported on conventionalbearing and spindle assemblies so asto rollingly engage'a'roadway or other under- [lying surface to permitthe carriage and bin 12 sup.-

ported thereon to be transported from one location to another, as shownin FIG. 6. The wheels 18 and 19 are also removably attached to thecarriage platform so that they can be removed with facility whenever theapparatus is to be used, thereby contributing by their absence to thestability of the apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. v6, the carriage 11may be equipped with a tongue bolted or otherwise removably secured tothe platform to enable the carriage to be attached to a vehicle 14 fortransport.

The carriage 11 also comprises support structure in the form oftransversely spaced uprights or columns 21 and 22 welded or otherwiserigidly secured to the platform and, in particular, to the side rails 15and 16 thereof. The uprights 21 and 22 may be I-beams as shown best inFIG. 6, and the interconnections thereof with the side beams 15 and 16may be reinforced with buttress plates, such as the plates 24 and 25respectively disposed adjacent the rear surfaces of the uprights 21. and22.

The bin 12 is secured to the support structure comprising the uprights21 and 22 for angular displacements with respect thereto and withrespect to the entire carriage 11 between a generally vertical positionof use, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a generally horizontal position fortransport, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In more particular terms, mountingmeans are provided for interconnecting the bin 12 and uprights 21 and 22for such relative angular displacements therebetween, and the mountingmeans takes the form of pivot shafts and I journal structuresestablishing a horizontally disposed axis adjacent the upper ends of theuprights 21 and 22 and about which the bin 12 is pivotally displaceable.For purposes of identification, the pivot shafts are respectivelydenoted with the numerals 26 and. 27, and the journals therefor may belocated either at the bin or at the uprights, whichever is mostconvenient in any particular embodiment of the apparatus In theparticular form shown, the journals are located in the uprights 21 and22, the upper end portions of which are configurated for this purpose,as shown at 28 in FIGS. 2 and 6.

The bin l2 is an elongated, longitudinally extending structure havingside walls 29 and 30, and end walls 31 and 32 defining a large chamberor material-receiving space 34 therewithin. At its lower end, the sideend and end walls converge inwardly and downwardly to form afunnel-shaped bottom section 35 terminating in a spout 36 forming anoutlet opening through which material within the chamber 34 isdischarged. Flow of material through the outlet is controlled bysuitable valve means which is advantageously a slide plate 37selectively displaceable between an inner closed position and an outeropen position. The spout 36 opens into a receiver 38 so as to dischargematerial thereinto for the advantageous purposes described hereinafter,but the spout can be connected directly to a flow conduit so as topermit material from the chamber 34 to be discharged directly thereinto.

At its upper end, the side and 'end walls of the bin 12 convergeinwardly and upwardly to form a frustopyramidal upper section having agenerally flat or planar top wall 39 equipped with outwardly projectingsuper structure in the form of a railing 42 comprising a plurality ofvertically disposed posts or struts supporting a handrail in spaced,parallel relation with the top wall 39. Hopper structure 44, as shownbest in FIG. 4,

is associated with the bin 12 and it converges downwardly and inwardlyto form a somewhat funnel-shaped collection space 45 in opencommunication with a distribution conduit 46 that connects with an inletconduit 47 extending downwardly through the top wall 39 of the bin anddefining an inlet opening 48 therewithin.

Also communicating with the conduit 46 adjacent the juncture thereofwith the inlet conduit 47 are a plurality of delivery conduits 49 and 50which diverge downwardly and outwardly, projecting through the top wall39 of the bin and through the side walls 29 and 30 thereof,respectively, as shown best in FIG. 1. With this arrangement, materialleaving the hopper 44 via the conduit 46 has a tripartite path throughwhich it can flow including the inlet conduit 47 and delivery conduits49 and 50. Valve means are provided to permit selective control over thepath of movement of material leaving the hopper 44, and such valve meansin the particular embodiment of the invention being considered includesa pair of flap valves 51 and 52 which are selectively movable betweenthe generally vertical positions illustrated by full lines in FIG. 4 andinclined positions, as shown by broken lines associated with the valve52 to depict its alternate position.

The valves 51 and 52 may be manually adjustable (although motor-drivenvalves can be used), and in the positions shown by full lines in FIG. 4,the delivery conduits 49 and 50 are closed so that all of the materialleaving the hopper 44 will flow into the chamber 34 of the bin 12 viathe conduits 46 and 47. If each of the valves 51 and 52 is movedinwardly into a centered orientation within the conduit 46, the inletconduit 47 will be closed and each of the delivery conduits 49 and 50open so that part of the material leaving the hopper 44 will flow intoeach of the delivery conduits, thereby providing two separate flow pathsfor such material. Whenever one of the valves is in its fully displacedinclined position and the other in the full-line position of FIG. 4, theinlet conduit 47 will be closed and one of the delivery conduits 49 or50 open and the other closed so that all of the material leaving thehopper 44 will flow through the open delivery tube. Although it will beusual to have the valve 51 and 52 in their fully open or fully closedpositions, they can be adjusted to partially open certain of theconduits 47, 49, and 50. Also, an additional valve can be incorporatedin the inlet conduit 47 so as to enable all of the three dischargeconduits to be closed, but there is little requirement for such anadditional valve in the usual use of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1,the outer end portions of the delivery conduits 49 and 50 project freelyfrom the bin 12 and side walls 29 and 30 thereof to permit connection ofsuch conduits with flow tubes, chutes, etc. to transfer material fromthe delivery conduits to containers located exteriorly of the bin suchas a railway car, truck trailer, storage bin, and the like.

Material is delivered to the hopper 44 by conveyor or elevator structureoperative to transport such material upwardly from the receiver 38 tothe hopper. The conveyor structure in the particular form of theinvention being considered includes a hollow, tubular conveyor orelevator shaft 54 extending through the bin 12 from the top to bottomthereof so as to project outwardly therefrom, as shown clearly in FIGS.1 and 2. Located within the shaft 54 is a conveyor or elevator 55 in theform of a conventional bucket elevator comprising transversely spacedendless belts 56 entrained at opposite ends about sheaves respectivelysupported on shafts 57 and 58, the first of which is an idler shaft andthe second a drive shaft. The shafts 57 and 58 are journaled forrotation in bearing structures provided for this purpose along the wallsof the shaft 54, and the drive shaft 58 is equipped with a sprocket orsheave 59 (depending upon the particular drive being employed) aboutwhich is entrained a drive belt 60 driven by a prime mover 61 via adrive sheave or sprocket 62. Ordinarily, the prime mover 61 will be anelectric motor energized from a suitable source, but it may take otherforms (a gasoline engine, for example) in instances in which electricpower is not readily available.

Attached to the endless belts 56 at spaced apart intervals therealong soas to be carried thereby are a plurality of conveyor elements or buckets64 which, as is well known, are configurated and supported so as toscoop a quantity of material thereinto when passing through thereceiver38 and thereafter carry the material upwardly to the hopper 44 intowhich the material is dumped as the bucket traverses the arcuate pathdefined by the drive sheaves supported upon the shaft 58, and whicharcuate path is illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 2. The belts 56 arerelatively taut and usually require no support intermediate the ends ofthe conveyor to resist transverse or lateral loads. As respects thepresent invention, the elevator 55 may be a completely conventionalbucket elevator functioning in the usual manner to pickup and carrygranular or fluent-type material from a lower elevation to a higherelevation at the latter of which the material is dumped into a hopper orother container provided for this purpose.

It will be evident that the receiver 38 and elevator shaft 54 are inopen communication adjacent the lower end of the shaft so that theelevator 55 passes through the receiver, and that the elevator shaft isalso in open communication at its upper end with the interior of thehopper 44. The prime mover 61 is supported upon the upper end of thehopper 44, but could be located elsewhere such as upon the top wall 39.Also, the prime mover could be either mounted at the lower end of thebin 12 or supported upon the carriage 11, although the latterpositioning of the prime mover would require interruption of the drivingconnection thereof with a conveyor 55 whenever the bin 12 isdisplaced-into the generally horizontal position thereof shown in FIG.6.

The bin 12 is essentially devoid of independent frame structure, and forthe most part comprises a plurality of sheet metal panels connected oneto another wherever necessary or appropriate by rigidly interconnectingthe adjacent edge portions of successive panels, which edge portions areturned laterally for this purpose and are disposed in contiguousabutment with surfaces of an adjacent panel so that they can be welded,riveted, or otherwise secured one to another. In this respect, FIG. 3illustrates such interconnection of the side wall panels 30 and 31adjacent a corner portion of the bin 12-and, as seen in this Figure, theend portions of the wall panels are turned laterally and are disposed inabutting juxtaposition with adjacent panel surfaces. For purposes ofidentification, the flanges at the adjacent ends of the wall panels 30and 31 are respectively denoted with the numerals 66 and 67, and suchflanges are fixedly secured to each other by any usual fasteningtechnique which, in the particular bin being considered, comprisesrivets 68 as shown in association with the flange 69 locatedintermediate the corners of the wall panel 31, as illustrated in FIG. 2.Respecting the flange 69, the side walls of the bin 12 are formed of aplurality of identical panels equipped with laterally turned endportions by means of which successive panels are joined. As shown inFIGS. 1, 2, and 6, each side wall may comprise (in a perimetric sense)three identical panels joined along longitudinal lines. The variousflanges are advantageously turned inwardly so as to minimize thepresence of external protuberances along the bin 12.

The flanges define integral reinforcing at the comer portions of the bin12 where strength is best utilized, and the elevator shaft 54 (which isconstructed in the same manner) extending through the interior of thebin 12 also reinforces and thereby strengthens the same. The lower endportion 35 of the bin is strengthened and rigidified by means of theconstruction shown in the drawings in which such end portion comprises aplurality of relatively narrow wall panels respectively denoted with thenumerals 30a through 30d respecting side wall 30, and with the numerals31a through 31d, respecting the end wall 31, and which panels alongtheir transverse edges are turned outwardly and are fixedly secured toeach other in the manner of the aforementioned flanges 66 and 67. Thetransverse edges of the various panel strips 30 and 31 are turnedoutwardly so that the inner surfaces of the funnel section 35 of the bin12 are relatively smooth and do not interfere with the free downwardmovement of material therethrough. However, the inclined, convergingedges of such panels at the ends thereof are turned inwardly and aresecured to each other in the same manner as the flanges 66 and 67 sincethey extend along the path of the downward movement of material throughthe funnel section and do not, therefore, interfere with such movementof material.

There is no corresponding requirement for additional reinforcement alongthe upper end portion of the bin 12 since very little force is appliedthereagainst as a consequence of material filling the bin. At the lowerend portion 35, the weight loadings thereon can be .quite large so thatthe strength-increasing construction shown and described isadvantageous. By way of example, for purposes of indicating the order ofmagnitude of a typical apparatus 10, the overall height thereof may beof the order of 40 feet, it may be square-shaped in cross section andhave an area of the order of 144 square feet (i.e., 12 feet square), andcan be constructed of 12 guage steel sheet metal. Such apparatus has atare weight of the order of 5,000 pounds, and will accommodateapproximately 3,600 bushels of a granular material such as corn weighingapproximately 200,000 pounds the equivalent of four semitrailer loads of50,000 pounds each. With the wheels 18 and 19 and hitch 20 removed, theground loading will not exceed approximately 2,000 pounds per squarefoot.

The stresses attributable to weight loadings of the general order ofmagnitude indicated tend to be confined to the comer portions of thesquare-shaped bin 12 where the strength thereof is located, and thisconfiguration of the bin increases the capacity thereof by more than 27percent over a counterpart bin of cylindrical configuration having thesame diameter as the length or width dimension of the bin 12. Thismaximization of the capacity or volume of the bin 12 is advantageous inassociation with the highway limits imposed on the dimensions of anyvehicle traveling the same which is the case with the apparatus 10 whenit is transported from one location to another. In apparatus having thegeneral size stated, the elevator 55 is able to process approximately4,500 bushels of material per hour when driven by an electric motor 61of horsepower.

The apparatus includes means for use in determining the orientation ofthe bin 12 and contributive to moving the same between the generallyvertical and horizontal positions respectively illustrated in FIGS. 2and 6. The means employed in a simple form thereof may include a hook 70adapted to have a cable at tached thereto, and a pulley wheel 71 aboutwhich such cable (not shown) can be entrained. In use of such anarrangement, a cable of appropriate strength is passed under the pulleywheel 71 and at one end is attached to the eye or fastener 70 and at itsother end adjacent the opposite end portion of the carrier 11, the cableis attached to a truck or tractor. It will be appreciated that when atensile force is applied to the cable by such tractor, a force will beapplied to the eye 70 tending to rotate the bin 12 in a counterclockwisedirection, as

viewed in FIGS. 2 and 6, thereby causing the bin to be erected ordisplaced angularly from the horizontal position shown in FIG. 6 intothe upright position shown in FIG. 2, or, in an opposite sense, topermit the bin 12 to rotate downwardly into its horizontal position fromthe erect or upright position thereof shown in FIG. 2, provided that theforce applied to the cable is of such value that it permits downwarddisplacement of the bin.

In this latter respect, it may be observed that the pivot'axis definedby the shafts 26 and 27 is offset transversely or laterally from thelongitudinal axis of the bin 12 and, as viewed in FIG. 2, to the leftthereof. As a resuit, the gravitational force operative upon the bin 12applies a continuous moment of clockwise direction thereto biasing thebin toward its horizontal position. Accordingly, whereas a positiveforce must be applied to the bin 12 to erect the same (i.e., displacethe bin angularly from its horizontal to its upright position), the binwill automatically return to its horizontal position so that the onlyforce that must be applied to the bin during this operation is that ofsufficient magnitude to yieldingly resist the gravitational forceoperative upon the bin. Either in the case of the bin 12 being erectedor being returned to its horizontal position, appropriate force for thispurpose can be applied to the bin via the eye 70 and appropriate cableattached thereto.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in thedrawings and being described therein, means are incorporated therein forraising and lowering the bin 12 directly. Such means takes the form of aplurality of fluid motor means comprising hydraulic piston-cylinderstructure 72 located in association with each of the uprights 21 and 22,although only one such piston-cylinder structure is shown in thedrawings. The cylinder of each such structure 72 is pivotally secured toa bracket 74 welded or otherwise rigidly related to the associatedupright. The rod of each such structure 72 is pivotally attached at 75to the associated side wall of the bin 12. Whenever the piston-cylinderstructures 72 are energized so as to displace the rods outwardly fromthe retracted positions thereof shown in FIG. 6, the resultant torqueapplied to the bin 12 displaces the same angularly about the pivotalaxis formed by the shafts 26 and 27 so as to force the bin into itsupright position. Conversely, when the magnitude of the energizing forceapplied to the structures 72 is gradually decreased, the bin 12 ispermitted to return in a clockwise direction into the generallyhorizontal position for transport shown in FIG. 6.

The structures 72 shown are hydraulically energized via a circuit thatincludes flow conduit means 76 connecting the cylinders 72 with ahydraulic pump 77 driven by a prime mover 78 in the form of an electricmotor. The usual reservoir 79 is associated with the pump 77, and asuitable manually operable control 80 forming a part of the hydrauliccircuit is conveniently located for manual manipulation.

Since the bin 12 is gravity biased toward the horizontal positionthereof, locking means are included in the apparatus for fixedlymaintaining the bin in its upright position. Although variousarrangements may be used for this purpose, the particular apparatus 10includes a pair of columns in the form of rods or posts 81 and 82 eachof which is pivotally secured at its lower end to the associated sidebeams 15 and 16. At their upper ends, the posts 81 and 82 arerespectively adapted to seat within the recessequipped lower ends ofsocket members 84 and 85 which are rigidly attached to the bin 12. Forthis purpose, the socket members 84 and 85 may include recessed plugswelded or otherwise attached to the lower ends of L-shaped angle ironswelded to the respectively associated side walls 29 and 30 of the bin 12adjacent corner portions thereof. When the upper end portions of therods 81 and 82 are engaging the socket members, the rods have anessentially vertical orientation so as to minimize flexure or bendingmoments therealong. The rods 81 and 82 are displaceable (mechanically inthe form shown, but manual arrangements can be used) between the uprightand retracted positions respectively shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, and motormeans in the form of hydraulic piston-cylinder structures 86 (one ofwhich is shown) are included for this purpose. Each such motor means 86is pivotally connected at one end to the associated side beam of thecarriage 11 and at its other end to the associated rod to accommodatethe angular displacements of the latter about the pivotal supportstherefor, as noted by the numeral 87 in FIGS. 2 and 6. The same motordriven pump 77 may be used to energize the motor means 86, and a circuittherefor is indicated by the flow conduit 88 which includes thereinmanually operable control means located at the same position as theaforementioned control means 80.

The center of gravity of the bin 12 is disposed generally along alongitudinal center plane through the bin which, therefore, locates itinwardly from the pivot axis or toward the right thereof, as viewed inFIG. 2. Further, the center of gravity remains at substantially the samelocation with respect to the pivot axis, and is therefore essentiallyspatially fixed relatively to the carriage l1 and uprights 21 and 22thereof. As a result, relatively constant-moment loads are operative onthe bin 12 tending to displace it into the generally horizontal positionthereof irrespective of the position of the bin at any particularinstant. That is to say, irrespective of whether the bin 12 is in itsvertical orientation, horizontal orientation, or some intermediateposition, the direction and magnitude of the moments summed about thepivot axis defined by the shafts 26 and 27 remain relatively constant.In structural terms, the uprights 21 and 22 comprise transversely spacedcomponents extending to an-elevation approximating thelateral width(i.e., the vertical dimension of the bin 12 as it is shown in FIG. 6,and the dimension thereof from left to right as it is shown in FIG. 2)of the bin which is secured adjacent a longitudinal edge portion thereofto the components at such elevation.

A ladder 89 may be attached to the bin 12 to permit workmen to ascend tothe top thereof when it is in its erected position of use shown in FIGS.1 and 2 for manipulating the valves 51 and 52 and for any otherappropriate purposes. The ladder 89 is advantageously maintained asclose as possible to the exterior walls of the bin 12 so as to occupyvery little space, and in the orientation shown it does not in any wayinterfere with use of the bin.

The tubular elevator shaft 54 is constructed in the same manner as thebin 12 and, accordingly, it may have a polygonal cross sectionalconfiguration (squareshaped, for example) with the edges of the wallpanels turned laterally and rigidly secured to each other, as shown inFIG. 3 with respect to the corner portions of the bin 12. Thus, theelevator shaft 54 comprises integral frame structure that rigidities thesame and also, therefore, strengthens and rigidities the entire bin 12which, in turn does the same for the shaft.

Use of the apparatus will be evident from the foregoing discussion, andit will be appreciated that it is readily transported from one place ofuse to another which tremendously enhances its general utility andenables it to have great versatility in use. Since the apparatus isrelatively lightweight, substantially any convenient work-type vehicle14 can be used to pull or transport the apparatus so that specialequipment is not required for this purpose. The tongue 20 and wheels 18and 19 are readily removed prior to the bin being erected, so that thecarriage 11 defines a stable, firm support for the apparatus during usethereof. It may be observed by comparing FIGS. 2 and 6 that the lowerextremities of the bin 12 are at a much higher elevation relative to thecarriage 11 and ground surface supporting the same when the bin is inits vertical position than when in the horizontal position thereof. Thischange in elevation provides the apparatus with a relatively low profileand center of gravity as it is being transported, thereby causing it tohave considerable stability during transport and enabling it to moveunder relatively low obstructions. On the other hand, the increasedspacing provided during use increases the facility with which theappropriate connections and manipulations associated with the lower endportion of the bin 12 may be made. In the typical embodiment of theinvention heretofore considered, the change in elevation may be as greatas 8 inches or more.

As heretofore indicated, when once loaded the material within thechamber 34 of the bin 12 can be continuously changed, turned, or mixedautomatically by operation of the elevator 55 which will removesuccessive lowermost quantities of material from the chamber, carry suchmaterial to the hopper 44, and discharge the material thereinto where itbecomes the uppermost quantity of material within the chamber. Theapparatus may also be used directly as a load out device by means ofwhich material placed in the receiver 38 is carried therefrom into thehopper 44 from which it is discharged downwardly and directly intoexterior vehicular or other containers via one or both of the deliveryconduits 49 and 50. Also, material stored within the chamber 34 can beoff-loaded therefrom in'the'same manner. Alternatively, material placedwithin the receiver 38 can be loaded into the chamber 34 of the bin bythe elevator 55 via the hopper 44 and feed conduit 47. The bin 12 is,accordingly, susceptible of variable speed loading and unloading bymeans of the elevator 55, although it can be unloaded by gravity throughthe bottom of the bin without use of the elevator 55.

The apparatus 10 is especially adaptable to materialmixing applicationsin which several materials having different characteristics are blendedwith one another such as is often required in preparing fertilizermixers, chemical compositions, food products, etc. In such instances,the bin 12 can be sub-divided into a plurality of compartments filledthrough a distributor head (e.g., a plurality of valve-controlleddelivery conduits 49,50 respectively connected therewith) and emptiedthrough metering valves.

The bin 12 is ordinarily intended to be displaced between the verticaland horizontal positions thereof when empty, and to be transported inthe same condition. However, whether loaded displacements and transportare feasible depends upon the weight of any particular material relatedto the structural strength of any particular bin. Also as respects itsstructural composition, it will be appreciated that making the bin atleast in part from essentially identical panels simplifies fabricationand significantly reduces its cost.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention hasbeen set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a completedisclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatnumerous changes may be made in such details without departing from thespirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Transportable apparatus for handling bulk materials such as grain orthe like, comprising a carriage adapted to be transported from locationto location and equipped with support structure, an elongated bindefining a chamber therein having inlet and outlet openings respectivelylocated at opposite end portions thereof and through which such materialis admitted into and removed from said chamber, said support structurehaving transversely spaced upright components extending upwardly fromsaid carriage to an elevation of the order of the approximate lateralwidth of said bin and said bin being disposed therebetween, mountingmeans securing said bin adjacent a longitudinal edge portion thereof tosaid spaced components at such elevation approximating the lateral widthof said bin for angular displacements with respect to said carriage andspaced components between a generally vertical position for use and agenerally horizontal position for transport, means adapted for use incontrolling displacement of said bin between the generally vertical andgenerally horizontal positions thereof, an end portion of said bin beingmovable along an arcuate path intermediate said spaced components assaid bin is displaced between the generally vertical and horizontalpositions thereof, said mounting means including shaft and journalstructure pivotally connecting said bin and spaced components at alocation along the longitudinal edge portion of the bin so as to beoffset from a longitudinal center plane therethrough and the center ofgravity of said bin being generally along such center plane whereby saidbin is gravity biased continuously toward the horizontal positionthereof, said shaft and journal structure further being located withrespect to said bin so that the center of gravity thereof remainsgenerally at the same spatial location relative to said carriage andspaced components irrespective of the position of said bin, and furthercomprising means for locking said bin in the vertical position thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said transversely spaced componentsinclude a pair of transversely spaced uprights secured to said carriageadjacent an end thereof, the longitudinal edge portion of said bin alongwhich said mounting means is secured thereto being oriented so that themajor portion of said bin is disposed above said carriage in both thegenerally vertical and horizontal positions of the bin.

3. Transportable apparatus for handling bulk materials such as grain orthe like, comprising a carriage adapted to be transported from locationto location and equipped with support structure, an elongated bindefining a chamber therein having inlet and outlet openings respectivelylocated at opposite end portions thereof and throughwhich such materialis admitted into and removed from said chamber, mounting means securingsaid bin to said support structure for angular displacements withrespect to said carriage between a generally vertical position for useand a generally horizontal position for transport, means adapted for usein controlling displacement of said bin between the generally verticaland generally horizontal positions thereof,

said bin being essentially devoid of independent frame structure lendingmechanical support thereto, said bin being of polygonal cross sectionand comprising generally planar side wall panels equipped with laterallyextending integral flanges adjacent the comers of said bin rigidlysecured to adjacent panels and defining structural support adjacent thecorner portions of said bin, a longitudinally disposed tubular elevatorshaft extending through said chamber and being fixedly secured to saidbin adjacent the opposite end portions thereof, an

.elevator located within said elevator shaft to transport material fromone end to the other thereof, said elevator shaft being effective toreinforce said bin, said support structure including a pair of spacedapart uprights having said bin disposed therebetween, said mountingmeans including shaft and journal structure pivotally connecting saidbin and uprights at a location such that a connection with said bin isoffset from a longitudinal center plane therethrough, the center ofgravity of said bin being generally along such center plane whereby saidbin is gravity biased continuously toward the horizontal positionthereof and said shaft and journal structure further being located withrespect to such bin so that its center of gravity remains at generallythe same spatial location relative to said carriage and uprightsirrespective of the position of said bin, and means for locking said binin the vertical position thereof 4. The apparatus of claim 3 in whichsaid means for use in controlling displacement of said bin includesmeans for attaching a cable thereto, and guide means mounted upon saidcarriage and about which such cable is adapted to be entrained.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said means for controllingdisplacement of said bin includes hydraulic motor means connected withsaid carriage and bin and operative therebetween to displace said binupwardly into its generally vertical position against the gravitationalbiasing force tending to displace said bin into the generally horizontalposition thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said elevator comprises a bucketelevator operative to transport material from the lower to the upper endof said bin, drive means for said conveyor to actuate the same andeffect such transportation of material, a receiver adjacent the lowerend of said elevator shaft in open communication with said elevator,said receiver being connected with said bin adjacent the lower endthereof to receive material therefrom and also being provided withcoverequipped opening to receive material from a source exterior of saidbin, valve means interposed between said receiver and bin to provideselective control over the delivery of material from said bin to saidreceiver, a hopper adjacent the upper end of said shaft in opencommunication with said elevator shaft in open communication elevator,said hopper being connected with said bin adjacent the upper end thereofthrough said inlet opening to deliver material thereto, a delivery tubeconnected adjacent one end thereof with said hopper and extendingdownwardly and outwardly therefrom to the exterior of said bin todeliver material to an external container, and distribution valve meansfor establishing selective communication with either said delivery tubeor said inlet opening and hopper to determine the flow path followed bymaterial discharged into said hopper by said elevator.

1. Transportable apparatus for handling bulk materials such as grain orthe like, comprising a carriage adapted to be transported from locationto location and equipped with support structure, an elongated bindefining a chamber therein having inlet and outlet openings respectivelylocated at opposite end portions thereof and through which such materialis admitted into and removed from said chamber, said support structurehaving transversely spaced upright components extending upwardly fromsaid carriage to an elevation of the order of the approximate lateralwidth of said bin and said bin being disposed therebetween, mountingmeans securing said bin adjacent a Longitudinal edge portion thereof tosaid spaced components at such elevation approximating the lateral widthof said bin for angular displacements with respect to said carriage andspaced components between a generally vertical position for use and agenerally horizontal position for transport, means adapted for use incontrolling displacement of said bin between the generally vertical andgenerally horizontal positions thereof, an end portion of said bin beingmovable along an arcuate path intermediate said spaced components assaid bin is displaced between the generally vertical and horizontalpositions thereof, said mounting means including shaft and journalstructure pivotally connecting said bin and spaced components at alocation along the longitudinal edge portion of the bin so as to beoffset from a longitudinal center plane therethrough and the center ofgravity of said bin being generally along such center plane whereby saidbin is gravity biased continuously toward the horizontal positionthereof, said shaft and journal structure further being located withrespect to said bin so that the center of gravity thereof remainsgenerally at the same spatial location relative to said carriage andspaced components irrespective of the position of said bin, and furthercomprising means for locking said bin in the vertical position thereof.2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said transversely spaced componentsinclude a pair of transversely spaced uprights secured to said carriageadjacent an end thereof, the longitudinal edge portion of said bin alongwhich said mounting means is secured thereto being oriented so that themajor portion of said bin is disposed above said carriage in both thegenerally vertical and horizontal positions of the bin.
 3. Transportableapparatus for handling bulk materials such as grain or the like,comprising a carriage adapted to be transported from location tolocation and equipped with support structure, an elongated bin defininga chamber therein having inlet and outlet openings respectively locatedat opposite end portions thereof and through which such material isadmitted into and removed from said chamber, mounting means securingsaid bin to said support structure for angular displacements withrespect to said carriage between a generally vertical position for useand a generally horizontal position for transport, means adapted for usein controlling displacement of said bin between the generally verticaland generally horizontal positions thereof, said bin being essentiallydevoid of independent frame structure lending mechanical supportthereto, said bin being of polygonal cross section and comprisinggenerally planar side wall panels equipped with laterally extendingintegral flanges adjacent the corners of said bin rigidly secured toadjacent panels and defining structural support adjacent the cornerportions of said bin, a longitudinally disposed tubular elevator shaftextending through said chamber and being fixedly secured to said binadjacent the opposite end portions thereof, an elevator located withinsaid elevator shaft to transport material from one end to the otherthereof, said elevator shaft being effective to reinforce said bin, saidsupport structure including a pair of spaced apart uprights having saidbin disposed therebetween, said mounting means including shaft andjournal structure pivotally connecting said bin and uprights at alocation such that a connection with said bin is offset from alongitudinal center plane therethrough, the center of gravity of saidbin being generally along such center plane whereby said bin is gravitybiased continuously toward the horizontal position thereof and saidshaft and journal structure further being located with respect to suchbin so that its center of gravity remains at generally the same spatiallocation relative to said carriage and uprights irrespective of theposition of said bin, and means for locking said bin in the verticalposition thereof.
 4. The apParatus of claim 3 in which said means foruse in controlling displacement of said bin includes means for attachinga cable thereto, and guide means mounted upon said carriage and aboutwhich such cable is adapted to be entrained.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3in which said means for controlling displacement of said bin includeshydraulic motor means connected with said carriage and bin and operativetherebetween to displace said bin upwardly into its generally verticalposition against the gravitational biasing force tending to displacesaid bin into the generally horizontal position thereof.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 3 in which said elevator comprises a bucket elevatoroperative to transport material from the lower to the upper end of saidbin, drive means for said conveyor to actuate the same and effect suchtransportation of material, a receiver adjacent the lower end of saidelevator shaft in open communication with said elevator, said receiverbeing connected with said bin adjacent the lower end thereof to receivematerial therefrom and also being provided with cover-equipped openingto receive material from a source exterior of said bin, valve meansinterposed between said receiver and bin to provide selective controlover the delivery of material from said bin to said receiver, a hopperadjacent the upper end of said shaft in open communication with saidelevator shaft in open communication elevator, said hopper beingconnected with said bin adjacent the upper end thereof through saidinlet opening to deliver material thereto, a delivery tube connectedadjacent one end thereof with said hopper and extending downwardly andoutwardly therefrom to the exterior of said bin to deliver material toan external container, and distribution valve means for establishingselective communication with either said delivery tube or said inletopening and hopper to determine the flow path followed by materialdischarged into said hopper by said elevator.